Protection of articles in transit

ABSTRACT

A device for protecting rectangular panels in transit includes a resilient sheet of substantial thickness having a substantially square central portion and four peripheral portions secured to the respective marginal edges of the central portion. In operation, the central portion is folded diagonally against itself so that pairs of adjacent peripheral portions overlie each other. The folded portion of the sheet is placed between two aligned panels at the corners and the respective pairs of coplanar peripheral portions are folded sequentially over the adjacent panel and secured to each other against the outwardly facing panel surface, the respective panels being maintained apart and the panel corners being protected.

United States Patent Weichberger [54] PROTECTION OF ARTICLES IN TRANSIT Philipp J. Weichberger, 463 West St., New York, NY. 10014 [22] Filed: June 16, 1970 [21] AppLNo: 46,786

[72] Inventor:

[ May 9, 1972 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [57] ABSTRACT A device for protecting rectangular panels in transit includes a resilient sheet of substantial thickness having a substantially square central portion and four peripheral portions secured to the respective marginal edges of the central portion. in operation, the central portion is folded diagonally against itself so that pairs of adjacent peripheral portions overlie each other. The folded portion of the sheet is placed between two aligned panels at the comers and the respective pairs of coplanar peripheral portions are folded sequentially over the adjacent panel and secured to each other against the outwardly facing panel surface, the respective panels being maintained apart and the panel corners being protected.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9 1912 sum 1 [IF 3 INVENTOR. PHILIPP WEICHBERGER ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAY 91912 SHEET 2 BF 3 B v M 3O INVENTOR.

PHILIPP WEICHBERGER BY W,

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAY 91972 3,661,252

sum 3 [1F 3 INVENTOR. PHILIPP WEICHBERGER BY FM M, M,T -,M%

ATTORNEYS PROTECTION OF ARTICLES IN TRANSIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device and method of protecting articles in transit. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel structure and process for protecting substantially rectangular panels, such as mirrors and paintings. The panels are maintained apart and the comers of such panels, which are highly susceptible to damage while in transit, are protected.

Although prior methods and devices for protecting rectangular panels in transit disclose pads for protecting the comers of the panels and maintaining them apart, such pads do not maintain the panels in the required rigid surface-to-surface relationship. For example, U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,061,166 and 3,184,135 disclose devices constructed to fit only a particular size panel. Because such devices must be assembled prior to placing them on the panels, they do not provide sufficient holding such as that obtainable by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for protecting rectangular panels in transit comprises a sheet of resilient material having a square central portion and four peripheral portions. Each peripheral portion is secured to a marginal edge of the central portion. The central portion is foldable diagonally against itself so that pairs of adjacent peripheral portions overlie each other. In use, the folded sheet is placed between two aligned panels, a corner and two associated marginal edges of the central portion registering with a corner of each aligned panel. Pairs of coplanar peripheral portions are then folded sequentially over an adjacent panel and are secured to each other in surface-tosurface contact against the outwardly facing surface of the panel.

The present invention affords a tight-fitting support to protect the corners of the panels and provides a separator to hold them apart. The device of the present invention need not be preassembled nor constructed for a particular assembly and is suitable for use with panels of varying thicknesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention in an unfolded orientation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention with the central panel being diagonally folded;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of panels having completely folded devices of the present invention at each corner; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention in partially completed folded orientation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a device of the present invention comprises a sheet of resilient material having substantial thickness, preferably foam rubber. The sheet includes a substantially square central portion 11 and four integral peripheral portions 12-15. Each of the peripheral portions 12-15 is secured to respective marginal edges 20-23, of the central portion 11. Although the peripheral portions 12-15 preferably are substantially square and congruent to the central portion 11, their size and shape may vary.

Referring to FIG. 2, the central portion 11 is folded along a diagonal line 18 resulting in the orientation wherein section 16 of the central portion 11 overlies section 17 of the central portion 11 in surface'to-surface contact and pairs of adjacent peripheral portions 12, 13 and 14, overlie each other (i.e., peripheral portion 12 overlies peripheral portion 14 and peripheral portion 13 overlies peripheral portion 15). The overlying sections 16, 17 of the central portion 11 when folded as shown in FIG. 2 are preferably fixedly secured to each other by adhesive or other suitable means. Referring to FIG. 5, the central portion 11, having been folded along a diagonal line 18 resulting in the configuration as depicted in FIG. 2, the coplanar peripheral portion 14 and 15 are then folded along lines 23 and 22 as shown in FIG. 2, respectively, resulting in the orientation whereby coplanar peripheral portion 15 partially overlies coplanar peripheral portion 14, thereby creating a triangulated area, which is capable of housing a corner of a panel. FIG. 5 represents the device 10 in a partially folded orientation to better describe the device 10 and the method for practicing the protection of articles.

Referring to FIG. 3, the devices 10a-10d in the diagonally folded orientation are placed between two aligned panels 30, 31 at the comers 32, 34, 36, 38 and 33, 35, 37 39 of the panels 30, 31. A corner 40 and two associated marginal edges 22, 23 of the central portion 11 of each device 10a-10d as shown in FIG. I, register with the corners 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the aligned panel 30 and a corner 41 and two associated marginal edges 20, 21 of the central portion 11 of each device 10a-l0d, as shown in FIG. I register with the comers 33, 35, 37 and 39 of the aligned panel 31.

Referring to FIG. 4, respective pairs of coplanar peripheral portions 12, 13 and 14, 15 of each device 10a-l0d are then folded sequentially over an adjacent panel (i.e., coplanar peripheral portions 12, 13 of each device Illa-10d are folded over panel 31 and coplanar peripheral portions 14, 15 of each device 10a-10d are folded over panel 30). The respective pairs of peripheral portions are secured to each other against the outwardly facing panel 30, 31 surfaces, thus maintaining the panels 30, 31 apart and protecting corners 32-39 from damage during shipment.

I claim:

1. A device for protecting rectangular panels in transit com prising a sheet of resilient material having substantial thickness, the sheet including a substantially square central portion and four peripheral portions, each peripheral portion being secured to a marginal edge of the central portions; the central portion being foldable diagonally against itself so that pairs of adjacent peripheral portions overlie each other; the folded sheet being placed between two aligned panels, a comer and two associated marginal edges of the central portion registering with a comer of each aligned panel and respective pairs of coplanar peripheral portions being folded sequentially over an adjacent panel and being secured to each other in surface-to-surface contact against the outwardly facing panel surface, the respective panels being maintained apart and the panel comers being protected.

2. A device according to claim I wherein each of the four peripheral portions are substantially square and are substantially congruent to the central portion.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the central portion is fixedly secured in a diagonally folded orientation.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the sheet of resilient material is foam rubber.

5. A process for protecting rectangular panels in transit comprising the steps of:

a. fonning an article from a sheet of resilient material hav ing substantial thickness, the sheet including a substantially square central portion and four peripheral portions, each peripheral portion being secured to a marginal end of the central portion;

(b) folding the central portion diagonally against itself, pairs of adjacent peripheral portions overlying each other;

c. placing the diagonally folded central portion between two aligned panels, a comer and two associated marginal edges of the central portion registering with a corner of each aligned panel;

. sequentially folding the coplanar peripheral portions over the adjacent panels; and e. securing the folded peripheral portions to each other in surface-to-surface contact against the outwardly facing panel surface.

I! =0 I I =8 

1. A device for protecting rectangular panels in transit comprising a sheet of resilient material having substantial thickness, the sheet including a substantially square central portion and four peripheral portions, each peripheral portion being secured to a marginal edge of the central portions; the central portion being foldable diagonally against itself so that pairs of adjacent peripheral portions overlie each other; the folded sheet being placed between two aligned panels, a corner and two associated marginal edges of the central portion registering with a corner of each aligned panel and respective pairs of coplanar peripheral portions being folded sequentially over an adjacent panel and being secured to each other in surface-to-surface contact against the outwardly facing panel surface, the respective panels being maintained apart and the panel corners being protected.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of the four peripheral portions are substantially square and are substantially congruent to the central portion.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the central portion is fixedly secured in a diagonally folded orientation.
 4. A device according to claim 2 wherein tHe sheet of resilient material is foam rubber.
 5. A process for protecting rectangular panels in transit comprising the steps of: a. forming an article from a sheet of resilient material having substantial thickness, the sheet including a substantially square central portion and four peripheral portions, each peripheral portion being secured to a marginal end of the central portion; (b) folding the central portion diagonally against itself, pairs of adjacent peripheral portions overlying each other; c. placing the diagonally folded central portion between two aligned panels, a corner and two associated marginal edges of the central portion registering with a corner of each aligned panel; d. sequentially folding the coplanar peripheral portions over the adjacent panels; and e. securing the folded peripheral portions to each other in surface-to-surface contact against the outwardly facing panel surface. 